Barbara Creaser Awards

Barbara Creaser 1940 – 1995

The Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture Fund was established in 1995 to celebrate and acknowledge the contribution made by Barbara Creaser to the lives of young children, early childhood practice and the early childhood profession.

Barbara Creaser made a major contribution to the professional development of students and early childhood educators in the Australian states and territories in which she worked. In particular, Barbara gave significant support to newer members of the profession. Her books too supported early childhood professionals in understanding and implementing an anti-bias curriculum and play-based pedagogy.

Barbara Creaser was an activist for social justice. She led Australia’s first encounter with the anti-bias curriculum in early childhood education by publishing the first edition of The Anti-bias Approach in Early Childhood in 1996. She co-edited the book with Elizabeth Dau. Both Barbara and Elizabeth had studied with Louise Derman-Sparks at Pacific Oaks College in the USA.

Barbara was an activist in her personal and professional roles, which included Deputy Director of the Australian Early Childhood Association (now Early Childhood Australia), Program Manager of the Northern Territory Children’s Services Resource and Advisory Program, part-time Lecturer at Charles Darwin University (Darwin), Lecturer at Regency TAFE (Adelaide), and private consultant. Her passion was inspirational and the motivational impact of her teaching and belief in social justice is remembered even today.

The fund aims to:

• support and promote the work of professional organisations
• honour leaders and potential leaders in the early childhood profession
• improve the quality of programs and experiences for young children and their families

There are three Barbara Creaser Awards

1. The Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture
2. The Barbara Creaser Champion Award; and
3. The Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award

Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture Award

Purpose

The Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture is awarded to a well-recognised and respected early childhood professional. The winner will be invited to deliver a 30-minute lecture or presentation at the 2024 Early Childhood Australia (ECA) National Conference to the full conference delegation.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must:

• be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia,
• must be nominated by an ECA state or territory committee,
• and must currently be a member of ECA.

All ECA members are welcome to suggest nominations for this award to their state or territory committee. Contact details are:

Selection criteria

Nominees for this award will be well-recognised and highly respected early childhood professionals who have engaged in effective advocacy for social justice and equity on behalf of young children and the early childhood sector over an extended period of time. They will be considered by their peers as having contributed to the rights and best interests of children, above and beyond their paid work. They will have made a lasting impression on those who witnessed their advocacy, and the changes they have made will have shifted the thinking of those around them.

In order to select one winner, the judges will review each nomination against the following criteria (400 words max per criteria):

1. How has the nominee shown leadership in social justice and equity in the early childhood sector?
2. How has the nominee used their influence and work to the improve programs and experiences for young children and their families, especially those experiencing disadvantage and exclusion?
3. How has the nominee acted as a catalyst for policy or practice change that more effectively addressed social justice and equity in early childhood education and care? What was the impact of this work? Provide examples.
4. How has the nominee provided a model of professional early childhood advocacy and activism for the sector, in particular for beginning early childhood professionals?
5. How has the nominee inspired others to strive for a more socially just and inclusive early childhood sector?

Application process

Only ECA state and territory committees can nominate candidates for the Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture. All applications should include a brief curriculum vitae (CV) or biography of the nominee, including their qualifications, as well as responses to the selection criteria.

• Nominations must be completed and submitted electronically via the online form.
• The specific award category must be selected and the appropriate nomination form completed.
• Nominations submitted any other way or late nominations will not be considered.

Process for reviewing applications

• Nominations will remain confidential throughout the review process.
• The selection committee will assess applications in three steps:
  1. Establishing that applications meet the criteria for eligibility.
  2. Assessing each eligible application against the selection criteria.
  3. Selecting one nominee to receive the award.

Value of the award

The successful recipient will receive:

• the opportunity to prepare and present the Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture at the ECA National Conference on a subject matter of their choice, progressing the early childhood sector’s understanding of social justice and equity—the Award recipient will be contacted prior to the conference and invited to prepare a lecture
• an invitation to participate in the Barbara Creaser Awards Panel at the 2024 ECA National Conference
• an invitation to write an article (or be interviewed) for an edition of ECA’s newsletter Every Child
• travel, accommodation and registration costs for the 2024 ECA National Conference
• a trophy, presented at the conference by ECA’s National President.
• complimentary ECA membership and subscriptions to ECA publications Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Every Child, Research in Practice Series and Everyday Learning Series for 12 months (any or all of these 12-month subscriptions can be transferred to another individual or service, if desired).

Nominations close 26 April 2024. 

Download the nomination form. Completed nomination forms should be emailed to awards@earlychildhood.org.au

Download nomination form

Barbara Creaser Champion Award

Purpose

The Barbara Creaser Champion Award is awarded to an early childhood professional working in a practice or leadership role within an early childhood or school setting who has been an outstanding advocate for young children. Together with the Barbara Creaser Memorial Lecture Award and the Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award, this award honours the legacy of Barbara Creaser.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must:

• be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia,
• must be nominated by an ECA state or territory committee,
• and must currently be a member of ECA.

All ECA members are welcome to suggest nominations for this award to their state or territory committee. Contact details are:

Selection criteria

Nominees for this award will be early childhood professionals who have been an outstanding advocate while holding a practical role in the sector (e.g. educator, teacher, support worker, service manager or director). Their advocacy may be about local issues (e.g. children being included in town planning or engaging with reconciliation), or it could be related to global issues such as climate change, gender equality or promoting the importance of play. It must be reflective of Barbara Creaser’s work, demonstrating anti-bias principles in action, as well as ECA’s vision of ‘every young child is thriving and learning’.

In order to select one winner, the judges will review each nomination against the following criteria (400 words max per criteria):

1. How has the nominee been effective in their advocacy for young children?
2. How has the nominee inspired others to strive for a more inclusive world?
3. How has the nominee shown leadership in social justice and equity in the early childhood sector or their community?
4. How has the nominee used their work to improve experiences for young children and their families, especially those at risk of disadvantage and exclusion?
5. How has the nominee acted as a catalyst for change and more effectively addressed social justice and equity in early childhood education and care? What was the impact of this work? Provide examples.

Application process

Only ECA state and territory committees can nominate candidates for the Barbara Creaser Champion Award. All applications should include a brief curriculum vitae (CV) or biography of the nominee, including their qualifications, as well as responses to the selection criteria.

• Nominations must be completed and submitted electronically via the online form.
• The specific award category must be selected and the appropriate nomination form completed.
• Nominations submitted any other way or late nominations will not be considered.

Process for reviewing applications

• Nominations will remain confidential throughout the review process.
• The selection committee will assess applications in three steps:
  1. Establishing that applications meet the criteria for eligibility.
  2. Assessing each eligible application against the selection criteria.
  3. Selecting one nominee to receive the award.

Value of the award

The successful nominee will receive:

• an invitation to participate in the Barbara Creaser Awards Panel at the 2024 ECA National Conference
• an invitation to write an article (or be interviewed) for ECA’s magazine, Every Child
• travel, accommodation and registration costs for the 2024 ECA National Conference
• a trophy, presented at the conference by ECA’s National President
• complimentary membership of ECA as well as subscriptions to ECA publications Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Every Child, Research in Practice Series and Everyday Learning Series for 12 months (or be given the option to transfer any or all of these 12-month subscriptions to another individual or service, if desired).

Nominations close 26 April 2024. 

Download the nomination form. Completed nomination forms should be emailed to awards@earlychildhood.org.au

Download nomination form

Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award

Purpose

The Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award recognises young early childhood professionals who have shown potential for advocacy work. The award aims to further hone their potential and encourage them to participate in ECA’s advocacy work for young children and the sector overall.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this award, the nominee must:

• be a permanent resident or citizen of Australia
• be nominated by an ECA state or territory committee
• be under 30 years of age when nominations close
• be endorsed by state and territory committees (Executives) who must indicate a commitment to mentoring the candidate for 12 months and provide information about how they propose to do this
• not have received this award in the past (past recipients may not reapply)
• have current membership of ECA.

All ECA members are welcome to suggest nominations for this award to their state or territory committee. Contact details are:

Selection criteria

Nominees for this award will be young early childhood professionals who are engaging in advocacy on behalf of young children and the early childhood sector. They will be considered by their peers as having contributed to the rights and best interests of children, above and beyond their paid work. They will have made a lasting impression on those who witnessed their advocacy, and the changes they have made will have shifted the thinking of those around them.

In order to select one award winner, the judges will review each nomination against the following criteria (400 words max per criteria):

1. Is the nominee regarded as an emerging leader in the early childhood profession, i.e. someone who is beginning to show leadership skills and make a contribution to the early childhood sector? In what ways?
2. How has the nominee been effective in supporting and promoting advocacy for young children and quality early childhood programs?
3. Has the nominee’s work been effective, or potentially effective, in supporting the improvement of programs and experiences for young children and their families? How? (This may be through raising awareness, enhancing knowledge or influencing policy or practice.)
4. How has the nominee inspired others to strive for a more socially just and inclusive early childhood sector?
5. How will the nominee benefit from mentoring and support to continue engaging in advocacy work? Please detail what support will be provided.

Application process

Only ECA state or territory committees can nominate candidates for the Barbara Creaser Young Advocate Award. All applications should include a brief curriculum vitae (CV) or biography of the nominee, including their qualifications, as well as responses to the selection criteria.

• Nominations must be completed and submitted electronically via the online form.
• The specific award category must be selected and the appropriate nomination form completed.
• Nominations submitted any other way or late nominations will not be considered.

Process for reviewing applications

• Nominations will remain confidential throughout the reviewing process.
• The selection committee will assess applications in three steps:
  1. Establishing that applications meet the criteria for eligibility.
  2. Assessing each eligible application against the selection criteria.
  3. Selecting one nominee to receive the award.

Value of the award

The successful nominee will receive:

• an invitation to participate in the Barbara Creaser Awards Panel at the 2024 ECA National Conference
• a trophy, presented at the 2024 ECA National Conference by ECA’s National President
• travel, accommodation and registration costs for the 2024 ECA National Conference
• complimentary membership of ECA as well as subscriptions to ECA publications Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Every Child, Research in Practice Series and Everyday Learning Series for 12 months (or be given the option to transfer any or all of these 12-month subscriptions to another individual or service, if desired).

Nominations close 26 April 2024.

Download the nomination form. Completed nomination forms should be emailed to awards@earlychildhood.org.au.

Download nomination form